My nephews have always been pretty easy to please. Give them a basketball and a hoop and they are good to go.
Years ago, before they were even teenagers, I took them to the court at our neighborhood amenity center. I watched. They played.
We hadn’t been there too long when a group of guys started walking toward the court, with a basketball in hand. Before the guys even said a word to us, I told my nephews, “Let’s go” and we left the court.
I immediately regretted doing that. We were there first and had no reason to end our game early just because they showed up. What example did I set for my nephews that day?
I think as Christians, we can do this too. When a challenge presents itself, we assume that because things got hard, it must not be God’s will…and we take our basketball and go home.
In the book of Joshua, there are several chapters devoted to dividing up the land that God had given to the children of Israel.
Even though the land was theirs, they still had to claim it. It seems simple enough…but apparently wasn’t. Some tribes neglected to take what belonged to them.
Joshua 17:3 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?
I don’t know what stopped those tribes from claiming what was theirs but I know what has stopped me in the past.
Intimidation. Insecurity. Opposition. Fear.
God’s will doesn’t mean things will always be easy. Just ask David who had to fight a giant or Esther who put her life on the line for the sake of her people. What is rightfully yours may not be handed to you on a silver platter. Are you willing to stand your ground and make the claim?
In the “Prayer of Jabez” devotional, Bruce Wilkinson says… “Countless Christians allow fear to stop them in their tracks because they assume that the feeling of fear is a red light from God (and a feeling of courage is a green light). Yet when we feel fear in following God, we are told to “take courage.” In fact, those who achieve greatness for God run toward the discomfort zone because that’s the primary place where borders expand.”
I don’t own the basketball court in our neighborhood but for that afternoon, it was ours. I let fear stop me (and the children with me) from possessing it. I won’t make that mistake again when we go back to the court but will I remember it in other areas of my life? I pray I do…and I hope and pray the same for you too.
A challenge doesn’t mean game over. It means we may just have to step up our game.
“Be strong and courageous…”.
~Anu
